Klopp confident of improvement after Anfield debut draw

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaks with James Milner on the touchline during the UEFA Europa League match at Anfield

Published:09:38Friday 23 October 2015

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is confident better things are just around the corner after his Anfield debut fell a touch flat.

A 1-1 Europa League Group B draw against 10-man Rubin Kazan was not the way he would have wanted to announce himself to the home fans.

It was not a masterclass but it is not the worst day in my life

Jurgen Klopp

But the German sees room for improvement and is ready for the challenge of extracting more from his players.

“When you come for the first time in a new house, normally you have a present,” he said.

“I am not quite satisfied with my present tonight but it was only the first time and I will come again.

“It was not a masterclass but it is not the worst day in my life.

“I would say 98 per cent was okay, not perfect, the other two per cent, that is the problem of this game.”

A third successive 1-1 draw leaves Liverpool in second place but four points behind group leaders Sion.

However, that gap does not concern Klopp too much as he prepares for the Reds’ trip to Russia in a couple of weeks.

“Sion won their game and they are away in the group. We can come back in Kazan. That is the next challenge,” he added.

Marko Devic scored a surprise opener for the visitors, who are fifth bottom in the Russian Premier League, but after captain Oleg Kuzmin was sent off for a second bookable offence Emre Can equalised via the resulting free-kick.

Liverpool should have pressed home their numerical advantage but the closest they came to a winner was when substitute Christian Benteke’s shot hit a post.

“Sometimes it is a big advantage against 10 men, most of the time they stop playing football and defend in a compact block,” said Klopp.

“We had our moments and hit the post through Christian but at the end (there was) no goal.”